Engine died tonight, need some help, funny story...
Discussion
EDIT: PROBLEM SORTED, SEE MY REPLY FURTHER DOWN IN THE THREAD. =)
Well guys,
These cars have the worst timing! I've never had a running problem up until now. I pulled out the Lotus as I had this girl who I was supposed to go see tonight. Now this is something that I never do, as I do not really want to look like a showoff. But I was feeling risky tonight and figured what the hell, take it out and have a little fun. I even discussed it with my many friends, which of course all answered that it shouldn't even be a question. So I get in the car, EVEN say out loud to it, please do not have any problems tonight! Well, what do you know, I get to the end of the street and the car dies. When I try to restart it, the engine just kind of putters for a second and it throws a check engine light. OK so at this point I curse at the dash, the stars, and anything in a stones throw distance, and push the blasted thing back up the street and into the garage. I call the girl and tell her I had car problems and that I will be about 30 minutes late. Unfortunately, I think she thought I was giving her the run around and wouldn't answer her phone later on. DAMN.
Anyways, now that I have written a novel here are my findings. I went in there tonight to see what I could find (I dont have freescan yet so im not able to pull the codes). I check the fuel pump inertia switch, seems fine but I pull it up and reset it. I had tried to start it a couple times before doing this to no avail. I hit the ignition, it limps on, and then dies once i hit the throttle. I tried to start it again and its back to puddering for a sec. I reset the switch once again, still putters. In a last ditch effort I try cranking it and hitting the throttle. It comes to life, revs, the oil pressure is fine, but as soon as i let off the gas it dies. Do the same thing once again and after a few blips it stays on, but when I hit the throttle cuts out and then revs. I shut it off and restart it with the same method (still wont start without help from the throttle), and it revs fine as long as im on the throttle but dies when I take my foot off. What do you guys think?
I just replaced the IAC valve a few days ago in an effort to fix a cold start problem the car has had since I bought it. It didn't fix the problem and the car ran fine yesterday when I went romping down the highway after I had put some new porterfield pads on the rear. So I wouldn't think this new IAC valve would be the problem. Could it be the TPS by any chance? Thanks in advance and sorry for the long read, im just a little frustrated tonight and had to vent lol!
P.S. The check engine light only comes on when I let off the throttle and it dies. It goes off (and stays off) while im on the throttle and the car is running.
-Callaway
1994 Esprit S4
>> Edited by callaway on Friday 7th April 12:31
>> Edited by callaway on Friday 7th April 12:33
Well guys,
These cars have the worst timing! I've never had a running problem up until now. I pulled out the Lotus as I had this girl who I was supposed to go see tonight. Now this is something that I never do, as I do not really want to look like a showoff. But I was feeling risky tonight and figured what the hell, take it out and have a little fun. I even discussed it with my many friends, which of course all answered that it shouldn't even be a question. So I get in the car, EVEN say out loud to it, please do not have any problems tonight! Well, what do you know, I get to the end of the street and the car dies. When I try to restart it, the engine just kind of putters for a second and it throws a check engine light. OK so at this point I curse at the dash, the stars, and anything in a stones throw distance, and push the blasted thing back up the street and into the garage. I call the girl and tell her I had car problems and that I will be about 30 minutes late. Unfortunately, I think she thought I was giving her the run around and wouldn't answer her phone later on. DAMN.
Anyways, now that I have written a novel here are my findings. I went in there tonight to see what I could find (I dont have freescan yet so im not able to pull the codes). I check the fuel pump inertia switch, seems fine but I pull it up and reset it. I had tried to start it a couple times before doing this to no avail. I hit the ignition, it limps on, and then dies once i hit the throttle. I tried to start it again and its back to puddering for a sec. I reset the switch once again, still putters. In a last ditch effort I try cranking it and hitting the throttle. It comes to life, revs, the oil pressure is fine, but as soon as i let off the gas it dies. Do the same thing once again and after a few blips it stays on, but when I hit the throttle cuts out and then revs. I shut it off and restart it with the same method (still wont start without help from the throttle), and it revs fine as long as im on the throttle but dies when I take my foot off. What do you guys think?
I just replaced the IAC valve a few days ago in an effort to fix a cold start problem the car has had since I bought it. It didn't fix the problem and the car ran fine yesterday when I went romping down the highway after I had put some new porterfield pads on the rear. So I wouldn't think this new IAC valve would be the problem. Could it be the TPS by any chance? Thanks in advance and sorry for the long read, im just a little frustrated tonight and had to vent lol!
P.S. The check engine light only comes on when I let off the throttle and it dies. It goes off (and stays off) while im on the throttle and the car is running.
-Callaway
1994 Esprit S4
>> Edited by callaway on Friday 7th April 12:31
>> Edited by callaway on Friday 7th April 12:33
Had a similar experience with a '90 SE Turbo. Turned out to be either the sensor located behind the body on the passenger side or the ECM. I think the sensor mentioned is the MAP sensor. To find it shine a light up into the body area forward of the battery. Two screws pass through the body into the mounting for the sensor. Bet the check engine light is the dreaded Quad Driver code.
By the way, you don't need anything more than a paper clip to see which codes are set. Of course you can't do anything other than read the code with a paper clip but at least it will give you a starting point.
By the way, you don't need anything more than a paper clip to see which codes are set. Of course you can't do anything other than read the code with a paper clip but at least it will give you a starting point.
girls hate my esprit, even when it does run okay. it usually doesn't. the best esprit moment was one night the door mechanism stuck itself into lock position with the engine running and me outside the car without keys. my date had to stand by the lotus and be honked at by other cars trying to get through. meanwhile, i ran four city blocks to the home center to buy some tools to break into my car with.
i take the car for frequent test drives, and on those occasions, it has proved to be very effective girl repellant. i should mention my car is two tone pink in colour, thanks to poor quality factory finish. it has always been garaged apart from short stays at public parking lots.
i take the car for frequent test drives, and on those occasions, it has proved to be very effective girl repellant. i should mention my car is two tone pink in colour, thanks to poor quality factory finish. it has always been garaged apart from short stays at public parking lots.
UPDATE: Ok I took the car out yesterday around the block for about 10 minutes, constantly having to restart it if I let off of the gas. Today: I go out in the garage to show my twin brother, I turn the key and get the puttering. Then I turn the key and hit the gas and she comes to life just fine as it has been doing, so I tell him "now watch im going to let off of the pedal and it will die", I let off of the pedal and the damn thing idles. So I tell him it has done this once before but once I kill it and restart the engine it will die again. I restart it w/out giving it gas out of curiousity, it comes on fine. I repeat this 3 more times and it comes on fine everytime!
I just got done driving it for 2 hours, and it still starts up just fine! This throws me off quite a bit, however I am going to replace all of the vacuum hoses just as a precautionary. Any other ideas? I would kill for freescan about now! :lol:
-Callaway
1994 Esprit S4
I just got done driving it for 2 hours, and it still starts up just fine! This throws me off quite a bit, however I am going to replace all of the vacuum hoses just as a precautionary. Any other ideas? I would kill for freescan about now! :lol:
-Callaway
1994 Esprit S4
g8nightman said:
When was the last time you put gas in it?
Filled it up w/ 93 at the same station I always do about 3-4 weeks ago, I normally drive it once or twice a week. However, within that time period i've been particularly busy and have only driven it about 4 times (not including today).
what it seems you've done there is : you've confused inanimate machines with biological beings. whereas natural creatures utilise sexual dimorphism to reproduce, machines are constructed from component parts without the messy intercourse and associated social connotations of the color pink. i don't believe they play baseball either, although it would be all american to be able to play nine innings without ever having to exit the vehicle.
Well guys,
The good news is my Esprit doesn't hate woman and is certainly not batting for the other team, lol! I took her out for a spin yesterday and all was well until I went back to the parking garage to go home. It started with a very weak idle, but managed to stay on. I drove down the street and sure enough when I clutched in it died on me again, and I was back to square one. So I got out in the garage tonight (early morning rather!) and pulled out the new IAC valve as it seemed the logical first step. When I pulled the new one off out came the motor portion but the spring and stepping shaft were left in the slot! They had completely seperated! So I popped the old one back in and she fired right up, went for a drive and everything is good to go! Hopefully JAE will take this new one back and I can invest in freescan. Thanks for all the help and hilarious comments fellas!
-Callaway
1994 Esprit S4
The good news is my Esprit doesn't hate woman and is certainly not batting for the other team, lol! I took her out for a spin yesterday and all was well until I went back to the parking garage to go home. It started with a very weak idle, but managed to stay on. I drove down the street and sure enough when I clutched in it died on me again, and I was back to square one. So I got out in the garage tonight (early morning rather!) and pulled out the new IAC valve as it seemed the logical first step. When I pulled the new one off out came the motor portion but the spring and stepping shaft were left in the slot! They had completely seperated! So I popped the old one back in and she fired right up, went for a drive and everything is good to go! Hopefully JAE will take this new one back and I can invest in freescan. Thanks for all the help and hilarious comments fellas!
-Callaway
1994 Esprit S4
southenddc said:
Maybe your Esprits 'Batting on the other team????'
Or maybe there is a little 58 Plymouth Fury in there some place? Very Stephen King...
IAC...new...broken...hmmmmmm? Let us know what happens the next time you take your Esprit on a "Date" with another woman...
Drive topless!!!
Cameron
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